Reflections

When it comes down to this assignment, I am ultimately happy with the finished product. I was able to experiment with some things and settings in Unreal that I have not used too much in the past. Ultimately, I wish I had given myself more time and stayed on top of this more, but when you're in school, there are other assignments and closer looming due dates that tend to take priority. In regards to due dates, I fell that they could have been better communicated and coordinated by the instructors involved, though I fully realize that it is my responsibility to get the work done.

My final thought is that I can't help but feel that I could have been doing more work on rigging - my chosen discipline - and honing that craft. While there was learning happening in creating this scene, it does not lend itself to rigging in the slightest. For me, this assignment will never see a spot on my reel and as such, I can't help but feel my time could have been better spent.

Unreal Shots

Final Screenshots in Unreal. Textures are created in various manners, some from found photographs, some from taken photographs, some generate in Substance. Used IES profiles to help with lighting. Created very basic models for scene extension and used post process in order to push the extension back.

More Models and UVing

Made slight changes to some models, added other models to populate the scene. UV unwrapped the models.

Into Unreal

Brought the pieces into Unreal and assembled them. Slight frustration in that the pieces at the curved part don't line up perfectly. I was able to resolve this by turning snapping off, snapping to a verterx, then working from there.

More Models

Started making the changes to the architecture I discussed earlier. Most of the structural components are now present, at least at the blocking level. Planning to still make more adjustments.

First Steps

First step was to break the structure into its modular pieces and then work through basic models in Maya to find problem areas.

Problem areas include the curve. The curve does not complete a 90 degree angle, but rather something closer to a 75, and then there is another sectioon of wall at 15 degrees to complete the 90.

Architecture Changes

This building has had many businesses in it in recent years. I have chosen elements from each renovation/portrayal that I like. 

The architecture stays mostly the same throughout, however the two small archest have been filled in with glass in this picture. I do like the canopies and will use them in my finished street corner.

Here the front doors are left open. I like the effect of the lights on the building at night, and will be using a night scene in my final street corner.

And here is a shot of the movie set. I would like to incorporate the FLYNN'S sign as well.

Concept

The original plan is to tailor this assignment towards my reel. That means showing off character and vehicle rigs. This ieda is to make the street corner out of toys from the 80s and 90s. Various wooden building blocks and Lego and bits of dollhouses. This set would be inhabited with toy characters similarly to Toy Story. I want to partner with an animator in the class to create this. While one teacher seems to really like the idea, the other thinks it is "too creative"




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Fall-back concept: the building that was used as Flynn's Arcade in the movie TRON: Legacy.